Bag packing apparatus

ABSTRACT

By the apparatus of the invention paper bags containing potato chips, pastries or other goods are mechanically packed into outer containers in a manner preventing the crushing or breaking of the contents of the bags and ensuring that the bags are constantly maintained in a fixed array during their passage through the apparatus. The apparatus comprises a bag conveying path, a bag lifting means cooperating with said path and having the form of parallel rows of outwardly projecting pegs moving along endless paths and adapted to receive therebetween groups of bags in a predetermined array, a horizontally and vertically movable carriage the rear portion of which lifts a group of bags from the bag lifting means onto a bag receiving platform and the front portion of which moves the group of bags along said platform, a vertically movable holder for said group of bags arranged above the platform, a means for further advancing the group of bags along the platform, and a means for transporting the group of bags onto a blank from which the outer container is subsequently formed.

United States Patent [191 Carlsson et al.

BAG PACKING APPARATUS Inventors: Stig Martin Carlsson; Jan ErikAndreasson, both of Orebro, Sweden Sunds Aktiebolag, Sundsvall, SwedenFiled: Nov. 3, 1972 Appl. No.: 303,361

Assignee:

Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 22, 1971 Sweden l4922/7l us. Cl.53/159 Int. Cl. B65b 35/30 Field Of Search 53/26, 159, 164, 165, 244,

References Cited v UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1943 5/1970 Rosecrans...4/1972 Holler 4/1972 Franklin .12. 53/164 x [111 3,822,528 July 9, 1974Primary Examiner-Robert L. Spruill Attorney, Agent, or FirmPierce,Scheffler & Parker [5 7] ABSTRACT By the apparatus of the inventionpaper bags containing potato chips, pastries or other goods aremechanically packed into outer containers in a manner preventing thecrushing or breaking of the contents of the bags and ensuring that thebags are constantly maintained in a fixed array during their passagethrough the apparatus. The apparatus comprises a bag conveying path, abag lifting means cooperating with said path and having the form ofparallel rows of outwardly projecting pegs moving along endless pathsand adapted to receive therebetween groups of bags in a predeterminedarray, a horizontally and vertically movable carriage the rear portionof which lifts a group of bags from the bag lifting means onto a bagreceiving platform and the front portion of which moves the group ofbags along sai doplatform, a vertically movable holder for said group ofbags-arranged above the platform, a means for further advancing thegroup of bags along the platform, and a means for transporting the groupof bags onto a blank from which the outer container is subsequentlyformed.

' 11 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUL 91974 3.822.528

SHEET 2 [1F 3 FIG. 2A

. 1 BAG PACKING APPARATUS The present invention relates to an apparatusfor packing bags in a container having the form of a box made fromcellular cardboard or simple cardboard.

'It has previously proven difficult to pack, mechanically,'bagscontaining fragile, crushable or very light products such as potatochips, sweets, pastries, cakes and the like. Consequently, it has oftenbeen necessary to pack such bags manually into storage containers.

The problems encountered with the mechanical packing of such bags residein the fact, that the contents of the bags are easily crushed, and thatowing to their shape etc. are difficult to arrange and maintain in adesired packed array.

. These problems are eliminated by means of the apparatus of the presentinvention, which is constructed to prevent the bags from being squeezedtogether in a manner such as to cause the contents thereof to be brokenand crushed, and to maintain the bags constantly in a fixed array duringtheir transport through the apparatus.

The apparatus of the present invention comprises a bag conveying path, abag lifting means'arranged coopcrating with said path and having theform 'of parallel rows of outwardly projecting pegs arranged to movealong endless paths and adapted to receive therebetween groups of bagsin a predetermined array, a horizontally and vertically movablecarriage, the rear portion of which is intended to lift the group ofbags from the bag lifting means onto a bag receiving platform, and thefront portion of which is adapted to move the group of bags along saidplatform, a vertically movable holder for said group of bags arrangedabovethe platform, a

means for further advancing the group of bags along the platform, and ameans for transferring the group of bags onto a blank from which thecontainer is subsequentlyformed about the group of bags.

The apparatus is intended to be used in combination with a, packagingmachine, operating according to the wrap-around principle for closingand sealing the outer container.

The apparatus can be constructed for different packing arrays. Withthe-described and illustrated embodiment, the apparatus is constructedto pack the bags in the bags along the chutes 1 is effected bychain'driven dogs 2 arranged for longitudinal movement centrally of thechutes. The chutes are arranged in side-by-side'relationship and alongthe initial portion of their length mutually extend in the same planeand are subsequently angled slightly relative to said plane, at the sametime as the outer chutes converge towards the center line of the bagconveying path at the forward portionthereoffThe bags are fed into therear portion of thechutes 1 in'their desired pattern of orientation,which in the illustrated case (see FIG. 2) consists of groups of three.The dogs 2 are arranged to advance the bags along the chutes 1 in suchgrouping (FIG. 2A), and when reaching the forward portion of the paththe bags will slightly overlap each other as a result of theconstruction of thechutes 1 (FIG. 2B).

At the discharge end of the chutes 1 there is arranged a continuouslyoperation bag lifting means, which is arranged to lift the bags from thechutes 1 while retaining the desired grouping of the bags. In theillustrated embodimentthe illustrated bag lifting means comprises. anumber of parallel endless chains3 spaced atsome convenient distancefrom each other laterally and having pegs 4 attached thereto andextending perpendicularly from the chains. Pegs 4, 4 provide uniformlyspaced partitions, in rows transverse to the direction of movement ofthe chains. At the rear portion of the bag upper flight of the chainsthe distance between the tops an array comprising three rows of bags,each row'containing eight bags.

The invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings,in which FIG. 1 shows. the apparatus according to the inventionin itsentirety, FIG. 2 diagrammatically gathering steps;

FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view taken at line A-A of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional viewtaken at line B-B represents thefeeding and of FIG. 2 and showing a row of three bags in the course ofbeing raised from horizontal to vertical position by and between pegs 4,4;

and FIGS. 3-8 inclusive diagrammatically serially represent differentstations, subsequent to the gathering station, incorporated within theapparatus of FIG. 1.

The illustrated apparatus comprises a continuously operating conveyingpath consisting of three sheetmetal chutes 1 along which bagscontaining, for example, fragile goods, are arranged to move. Movementof of the pegs is caused to increase so that the bags can be receivedfrom path 1 and accomodated between the pegs without damaging thecontents of the bags. As will be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, as the dogs 2on the conveying path 1 are moved out of engagement with the bags, thebags are lifted by the pegs 4 on the bag lifting means onto a planarportion (i.e., the upper flight) of said bag lifting means, the bagsbeing securely but gently heldbetween the pegs. The spacing between thepegs is adjusted to the thickness of the bags being packed and to thedegree of crushability of the bag contents. Cooperating with the baglifting means 3, 4 is a continuously operating carriagestructureconsisting of a number of parallel and horizontally extending rods 6,each of which is provided with two pairs of upright pins 7. Each' rod 6is disposed intermediate two adjacent chains 3, 3, of the bag liftingassembly. When removing a group of bags from the bag lifting means therear portionof the rods 6 extend between the chains 3 and the carriageis moved upwards as indicated by reference number 9 in FIG. 3. The groupof bags is held together by pins 7 on the rods6. The rods are heldtogether by a frame structure, which in turn is supported by four shortarms (not shown) connected to four chains 8, two on each side of theapparatus (in a manner not shown). The chains 8 are arranged to be movedby means (not shown) in a manner such that the carriage structurefollows a trapezoidal movement pattern, as indicated by the arrows onchains 8 in FIG. 3. The rear portion 9 of the path travelled by thecarriage is inclined to an extent such that the horizontal speed of thebag lifting means and the speed of the carriage are of equal magni-'tude, thereby synchronizing the movement of the two machine portions sothat the carriage is able to remove bag groups from the bag liftingmeans at predetermined time intervals. Removal of the bag groups fromthe bag lifting means by the carriage is effected by the rear portion ofthe rods 6 on the carriage, the pair of pins 7 arranged on said rearportion acting as supports for the bags. As will be seen from FIG. 3,the carriage is arranged to move beneath the bag lifting means and whenreaching a pre-set limit of travel, is arranged to move obliquelyupwards to lift a selected number of bag groups from the bag liftingmeans, the height to which the bags arelifted being such as to enablethe remaining bags to pass freely beneath the upraised rods on thecarriage. At this stage the carriage has reached its rear, upper limitof travel, from which it moves forward to its forward, upper limitposition (FIG. 4), from where it moves perpendicularly downwardly tocomplete the illustrated movement pattern. Arranged in the uppermovement path of the carriage 6, 7 is a table or platform 10, comprisinga number of stationarily mounted, parallel rods (not shown in detail)arranged in spaced apart relationship. Each rod is disposedintermediately in the space between two adjacent rods 6, 60f thecarriage, the space between the rods being such as to permit passage ofthe rods 6 therebetween. As will be evi-,

dent from the drawings, the rods 6 of the carriage with the group ofbags can be movedin between the rods of the table where the bag holder11, 12 is lowered and holds the group of bags on the table when thecarriage is lowered. Thus, in each cycle of movement at this station thebags are carried by the carriage 6, 7 to the table 10 and, uponcontinued movement of the chains 8, are pushed onto said table, in thegrouping array in which they were collected from the bag lifting means3, 4 by the carriage.

Arranged above the table 10 is an intermittently operating bag holder,consisting of a plate 11, provided at the rear and-front edge surfacesthereof with a hinged, suspended gate structure 12. The bag holder isarranged for vertical reciprocating movement between an upper position,in which it is remote from the table, and a lower position, in which itembraces a group of bags located on said table, movement of the means between said positions being effected by two cams (not shown). The gates12 are-spring biased so that when the bag holder occupies its upperposition the gates are inclined outwardly at about 15. As the bag holderreaches its lower position, the gates are actuated by two levers (notshown) and moved to a vertical position, in which they bear gently butfirmly against the group of bags on the table 10. This arrangement isprovided so as not to damage the outer bags in the group of bags. Thegroup of bags is retained by the bag holder until the carriage hascompleted one further revolution. This portion of the apparatus isillustrated more clearly in FIG. 4.

' Thenext sequence of operations is illustrated in FIG. 5. This stationcomprises the forward portion of the carriage 6, 7. When the carriagehas again reached its rear upper limit position, the forward portion ofthe carriage together with its pairs of rows of pins has reached a pointlocated beneath the group of bags retained by the bag holder. In thisposition the carriage is arranged to take over the function of the bagholder, thereby leaving the bag holder free to be returned to its upperlimit position. It should be noted that, throughout all the describedsequence, the bags are at no time left unsupported, neither laterallynor vertically. As the carriage then moves forward following theaforedescribed movement pattern, the group of bags is moved by theforward portion of the carriage to the next station of the apparatus,illustrated in FIG. 6, which corresponds to the forward end of the pathtravelled by the carriage.

Arranged at the forward end of the upper movement path of the carriage6, 7 is an intermittently operating rake means 13 which comprises aframe structure which is open upwards and has hinged gates at its rearand forward edges. The rake is arranged to reciprocate between a frontand a rear limit position, for instance by means of a piston rod. Whenit moves backwards the rear edge of the frame together with itsassociated gate is lifted by means of an inclined ridge along which therear edge slides. At the rear limit position the rear edge falls downfrom the ridge behind the group of bags and the rake means takes overthe group of bags from the forward portion of the carriage, whichcarriage is then lowered. Located at the rear and forward edges of theframe structure are hinged gates similar to those arranged with the bagholder. When the rake moves rearwardly, the rear portion of the framestructure is lifted together with its associated gate by means (notshown) to an extent such as to enable it to pass freely over the bags.When reaching its rear limit position, the frame structure is arrangedto fall with .the rearmost gate located behind the group of bags, and incontact with the extreme surfaces thereof, at the same time as the frontgate of the rake means reaches and engages the front edge of the groupof bags. The rake means has now charge of the group of bags and thecarriage moves downwardly. Subsequent to the rods on the carriagepassing beneath the lower edge surfaces of the bags, the rake meansmoves forward to the next its front limit position, corresponding tostation of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 7.

Arranged adjacent the front limit position of the bag raking means is anintermittently operating bag transferring means, consisting of twohorizontally positioned and superimposed plates.14, 15 depending from acompressed air cylinder 16 arranged above the group of bags and directlyover the downlifting plates 19, 19 of a known bag packaging machine.Plates 14, 15 of the transferring means can move down through the openframe structure of rake 13. The upper plate of the plates 14 is securelyconnected with the cylinder and is provided with outwardly movable gatestructures at its rear and front edges. The lower plate 15 is freelymounted in the upper plate 14 in a manner to enableit to be movedupwardly from its starting position towards said plate 14.

At the same time as the rake draws a group of bags forward to thetransferring means l6, 14, 15, the transferring plate of the packagingmachine moves upwardly and a sheet of material 17 (container blank) isadvanced into position beneath the bags, being supported on a pair ofsupporting plates l9, 19. When the rake has reached its forward limitposition, the group of bags has been moved to a position in which theyrest on the portion of the blank forming the bottom of the containerwhen shaped.

The plates 14, 15 in the transferring means are arranged to move downthrough the bag raking means which is open upwardly and the gatestructure on the upper plate 14 rests on the sheet 17, enclosing thegroup of bags (FIG. 8). The lower plate 15 remains as a weight on top ofthe group of bags.

The sheet of material or container blank 17 and the group of bags arethen pressed down in the first station of the known packaging machine asshown at 18, where the blank is shaped into the container. The plates14, in the transferring means then return to their upper position, theweight exerted by the lower plate 15 on the bags preventing them frombeing lifted by the gates as the transferring means is moved by thepiston 16 to itsupper limit position.

Thecontainer together with its contents can then be moved stepwisethrough the known packaging machine and closed and sealed therein.

We claim:

1. An apparatus for packaging bags containing fragile material in acontainer, comprising a bag conveying path (1) for feeding the bags to abag lifting means (3, 4) comprising parallel rows of pegs (4) which aremovable along endless paths, and which extend perpendicularly of saidpaths, the distance between the pegs corresponding substantially tothethickne ss of a bag so that said bags are fixed between said pegs(4); a horizontally and vertically movable carriage (6), the rearportion of which is adapted to lift a group of bags from the bag liftingmeans (3, 4) onto a table (10) cooperating with a bag group holdingmeans (11, 12) the forward portion of which carriage (6) is adaptedsimultaneously to move a preceding group of bags from the holder (11,12)along the table (10); and

means (13) for receiving the group of bags from the forward portion ofthe carriage (6) further to ad'- vance said group of bags along thetable (10) up to a means-(14, .15, 16) for transferring the group ofbags onto a blank from which the container is subsequently formed.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the path'(l) comprisesone or more chutes in which dogs (2) are arranged.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein several chutes arearranged in side by side relationship and that the distance between thechutes decreases in the movement direction of the bags at the same timeas said channels are inclined in thesame direction so that the bagsoverlap each other.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the carriage (6) comprisesa number of parallel rods arranged straight before the interspacesbetween the rows of pegs on the bag lifting means, each rod being 6provided with two pairs of upstanding supports (7) defining forward andrear portions of the carriage (6).

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the carriage (6) ismovable in a path (8) obliquely upwardly between the rows of pegs andthereafter horizontally forward so that its rear portion lifts up thegroup of bags from the bag lifting means to the table (10), whichconsists of a number of stationarily mounted horizontal rods.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the forward portion of thecarriage (6) is arranged to move the group of bags forward along thetable (10).

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bag holder (11, 12)comprises a plate, the rear and forward edge of which is provided with apivotally suspended gate (12) for fixing the group of bags on the table(10).

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means (13) for furtheradvancing the group of bags along the table (10) comprises a frame, therear and front edges of which are provided with gates, said frame beingarranged to move reciprocatingly along the table (10), an inclinedridgebeing arranged to lift the'rear gate above the group of bags uponrearward movement of said frame.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means (14-16) fortransferring the group of bags onto the container blank is locatedimmediately behind the table (10) and directly above a transferringplate (19) of a packaging machine, the means for transferring the groupof bags comprising a horizontal plate (14) arranged for verticalreciprocating movement and which is provided with gates at its forwardand rear edge for pressing the group of bagsonto the container blankplaced on the transferring plate (19) of the packaging machine.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a lower plate 15 issuspended from. said horizontal plate (14) in a manner such that saidlower plate is freely movable up and down in relation to said horizontalplate.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the pegs (4) of the baglifting means are attached to chains (3) which, centrally of the path(I), extend over a wheel (5) the distance between the tops of the pegs(4) increasing and thereby enabling the bags to be fed in between thepegs, and in that the chains (3) are then horizontally arranged to fixthe bags in the desired grouping array.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION P n 3.892.628Dated Julv Q. lqvn .l nventor(s Stig Martin Carlsson et all I It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby correctedas shown' below:

Claim 2, line 1, after "the" insert:

conveying Signed and sealed this 1st day of October.l974.

(SEAL) Attestz MCCOY M. GIBSON JR. Attesting Officer C. MARSHALL DANNCommissioner of Patonps FORM PO-1050 (10-69) USCOMM-DC ooan-pco t US.GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: Ill, OJ66-3J4'

1. An apparatus for pAckaging bags containing fragile material in acontainer, comprising a bag conveying path (1) for feeding the bags to abag lifting means (3, 4) comprising parallel rows of pegs (4) which aremovable along endless paths, and which extend perpendicularly of saidpaths, the distance between the pegs corresponding substantially to thethickness of a bag so that said bags are fixed between said pegs (4); ahorizontally and vertically movable carriage (6), the rear portion ofwhich is adapted to lift a group of bags from the bag lifting means (3,4) onto a table (10) cooperating with a bag group holding means (11, 12)the forward portion of which carriage (6) is adapted simultaneously tomove a preceding group of bags from the holder (11, 12) along the table(10); and means (13) for receiving the group of bags from the forwardportion of the carriage (6) further to advance said group of bags alongthe table (10) up to a means (14, 15, 16) for transferring the group ofbags onto a blank from which the container is subsequently formed.
 2. Anarrangement according to claim 1, wherein the path (1) comprises one ormore chutes in which dogs (2) are arranged.
 3. An apparatus according toclaim 2, wherein several chutes are arranged in side by siderelationship and that the distance between the chutes decreases in themovement direction of the bags at the same time as said channels areinclined in the same direction so that the bags overlap each other. 4.An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the carriage (6) comprises anumber of parallel rods arranged straight before the interspaces betweenthe rows of pegs on the bag lifting means, each rod being provided withtwo pairs of upstanding supports (7) defining forward and rear portionsof the carriage (6).
 5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein thecarriage (6) is movable in a path (8) obliquely upwardly between therows of pegs and thereafter horizontally forward so that its rearportion lifts up the group of bags from the bag lifting means to thetable (10), which consists of a number of stationarily mountedhorizontal rods.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein theforward portion of the carriage (6) is arranged to move the group ofbags forward along the table (10).
 7. An apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the bag holder (11, 12) comprises a plate, the rear and forwardedge of which is provided with a pivotally suspended gate (12) forfixing the group of bags on the table (10).
 8. An apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the means (13) for further advancing the group of bagsalong the table (10) comprises a frame, the rear and front edges ofwhich are provided with gates, said frame being arranged to movereciprocatingly along the table (10), an inclined ridge being arrangedto lift the rear gate above the group of bags upon rearward movement ofsaid frame.
 9. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means(14-16) for transferring the group of bags onto the container blank islocated immediately behind the table (10) and directly above atransferring plate (19) of a packaging machine, the means fortransferring the group of bags comprising a horizontal plate (14)arranged for vertical reciprocating movement and which is provided withgates at its forward and rear edge for pressing the group of bags ontothe container blank placed on the transferring plate (19) of thepackaging machine.
 10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein alower plate 15 is suspended from said horizontal plate (14) in a mannersuch that said lower plate is freely movable up and down in relation tosaid horizontal plate.
 11. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein thepegs (4) of the bag lifting means are attached to chains (3) which,centrally of the path (1), extend over a wheel (5) the distance betweenthe tops of the pegs (4) increasing and thereby enabling the bags to befed in between the pegs, and in that the chains (3) are thenhorizontally arranged to fix the bags In the desired grouping array.